Indication

Concerta is a medication used to treat individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is only prescribed by specialist doctors and not by general practitioners. It is used in conjunction with other ADHD treatment measures, such as social and educational treatments.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation Tool

Does your child have problems paying attention? Do they fidget, talk a lot, or run around with seemingly endless energy? Do they have trouble waiting their turn, and ‘butt into’ games or conversations?

If the answer to any of these is yes, you might want to find out whether your child is exhibiting symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). All children at some time or another will tend to be inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive. However some children will exhibit these qualities most of the time, and more than their peers.

Please complete the survey below to find out if you need to consult your GP about these symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that symptoms of ADHD are often common in many energetic children; therefore it might help to compare your child to other children in the same age group.

Does your child fail to pay attention to details during tasks? For example, a teacher may have reported careless errors in schoolwork.

Yes

Not more than other children of the same age

Does your child have trouble sustaining attention during tasks or games? For example they appear to easily lose interest and become distracted.

Do they have trouble following through on instructions, and often fail to finish schoolwork, homework or chores?

Yes

Not more than other children of the same age

Do they have trouble listening, even when spoken to directly?

Yes

Not more than other children of the same age

Could your child be described using the following three words: forgetful; disorganised; or easily distracted?

Yes, to all three

Yes, to two only

Yes, to one only

None of these words could describe my child

Does your child avoid or dislike activities that require sustained mental attention such as schoolwork or homework?

Yes

Not more than other children of the same age

Does your child fidget, squirm in their seat, or get up from their seat in situations where sitting still or remaining seated are expected?

Yes

Not more than any other child of the same age

Does your child have difficulty ‘playing quietly’?

Yes

Not more than any other child of the same age

Does your child act as if driven by a motor, often running or climbing excessively, and in situations where it is inappropriate?

Yes

Not more than any other child of the same age

Does your child talk excessively and/or blurt out answers before questions have been completed?

Yes, to both

Yes, to one only

Not compared to children of the same age

Does your child have difficulty waiting their turn and/or interrupt or intrude on the conversations or games of others?

Yes, to both

Yes, to one only

Not compared to children of the same age

On the scale below, please indicate how much you feel these symptoms impact on your child’s quality and enjoyment of their social and academic life (1 indicates that their life is not affected by the symptoms and 10 indicates their life is severely affected).

Evaluation

Your child is unlikely to be experiencing symptoms of ADHD. You probably don’t need to be concerned.

Evaluation

Your child is unlikely to be experiencing symptoms of ADHD. However, if you are concerned, you should show this survey to your GP at your next consult.

Evaluation

Your child may be experiencing some of the symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms may be able to be managed by your doctor. You should book an appointment with your GP and take this survey with you for further discussion.

Evaluation

Your child may be experiencing some of the symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms may be able to be managed by your doctor. You should book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible and take this survey with you for further discussion.

This information will be collected for educational purposes, however it will remain anonymous.

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Add up your answers to the following questions:

Does your child fail to pay attention to details during tasks? For example, a teacher may have reported careless errors in schoolwork.

Yes: 1 point

Not more than other children of the same age: 0 points

Does your child have trouble sustaining attention during tasks or games? For example they appear to easily lose interest and become distracted.

Yes: 1 point

Not more than other children of the same age: 0 points

Do they have trouble following through on instructions, and often fail to finish schoolwork, homework or chores?

Yes: 1 points

Not more than other children of the same age: 0 points

Do they have trouble listening, even when spoken to directly?

Yes: 1 point

Not more than other children of the same age: 0 points

Could your child be described using the following three words: forgetful; disorganised; or easily distracted?

Yes, to all three: 3 points

Yes, to two only: 2 points

Yes, to one only: 1 point

None of these words could describe my child: 0 points

Does your child avoid or dislike activities that require sustained mental attention such as schoolwork or homework?

Yes: 1 point

Not more than other children of the same age: 0 points

Does your child fidget, squirm in their seat, or get up from their seat in situations where sitting still or remaining seated are expected?

Yes: 1 point

Not more than any other child of the same age: 0 points

Does your child have difficulty ‘playing quietly’?

Yes: 1 point

Not more than any other child of the same age: 0 points

Does your child act as if driven by a motor, often running or climbing excessively, and in situations where it is inappropriate?

Yes: 1 point

Not more than any other child of the same age: 0 points

Does your child talk excessively and/or blurt out answers before questions have been completed?

Yes, to both: 2 points

Yes, to one only: 1 points

Not compared to children of the same age: 0 points

Does your child have difficulty waiting their turn and/or interrupt or intrude on the conversations or games of others?

Yes, to both: 2 points

Yes, to one only: 1 point

Not compared to children of the same age: 0 points

On the scale below, please indicate how much you feel these symptoms impact on your child’s quality and enjoyment of their social and academic life (1 indicates that their life is not affected by the symptoms and 10 indicates their life is severely affected).

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Scoring: a rating of 1-5 is worth 0 points, 6-10 is worth 1 point.

0 to 2 points

Your child is unlikely to be experiencing symptoms of ADHD. You probably don’t need to be concerned.

3 to 5 points

Your child is unlikely to be experiencing symptoms of ADHD. However, if you are concerned, you should show this survey to your GP at your next consult.

6 to 11 points

Your child may be experiencing some of the symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms may be able to be managed by your doctor. You should book an appointment with your GP and take this survey with you for further discussion.

12 and above

Your child may be experiencing some of the symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms may be able to be managed by your doctor. You should book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible and take this survey with you for further discussion.

Dose advice

Dose information

Concerta tablets should be swallowed whole – they should never be crushed, chewed or divided. This is because they have a special coating that releases the medications contained in the tablet slowly, rather than all at once when the tablet is taken. The tablet coating is not absorbed by the body and will be eliminated in the faeces. Individuals taking Concerta tablets should not be alarmed if they see the tablet coating in their faeces.

The correct dose of Concerta will depend on the individual, and will be calculated by a specialist doctor, based on the individual’s response to the drug. Individuals with questions about the correct dose or how to take Concerta should consult their specialist.

Contraindications

Concerta should not be used by individuals with any of the following conditions:

Concerta should not be used in children < 6 years of age. A doctor is likely to stop Concerta therapy if an older child taking the medication is not growing sufficiently or is not gaining sufficient weight.

Precautions

Concerta is more likely to result in negative side effects in some groups of people, and doctors will be more cautious about prescribing Concerta to these individuals. Doctors will be particularly cautious when prescribing Concerta to patients with a history of substance abuse, as Concerta abuse is associated with tolerance, psychological dependence and psychotic episodes.

If an individual has become addicted to the medication, stopping it can sometimes lead to severe depression. Doctors will closely supervise these individuals.

Concerta is a Pregnancy Category B3 medication. The safety of using Concerta during pregnancy has not yet been established, so doctors will be very cautious about prescribing this medicine to pregnant women.

Use in breastfeeding

It has not yet been established whether or not it is safe to use Concerta while breastfeeding.

Schedule

Common side effects

All medications result in some side effects. The side effects of Concerta are different for children and adults. The side effects of Concerta are typically minor; however, some very serious side effects have also been observed on rare occasions. A doctor will assess the likelihood of any side effects occurring before prescribing Concerta.

Children

Very common side effects in children

Very common side effects are those which occur in more than 10% of people given Concerta. The only very common side effect for children taking Concerta is headaches.

Common side effects in children

Common side effects are those which occur in more than 1% of children given Concerta. These include: